World No2 Maria Sharapova has saved two match points before escaping with a 6-1 4-6 7-5 second-round victory over little-known Russian compatriot Alexandra Panova at the Australian Open.
Panova led 4-1 in the final set and then held a pair of match points in the 10th game, both of which Sharapova saved with clean forehand winners. Buoyed by that narrow escape, Sharapova steadied to win in two hours and 32 minutes.
The 25-year-old Panova had not even won a match at grand slam level until she beat Romania's Sorana Cirstea two days ago.
Sharapova twice double-faulted on break point in the second set and also struggled with her serve early in the decider before regaining the initiative in the nick of time.
Late-blooming Peng Shuai from China, meanwhile, became the first player through to the third round. The 21st seed trounced Magdalena Rybarikova from Slovakia 6-1 6-1 in the opening match on Wednesday on Hisense Arena.
